diff --git a/src/keyer.cpp b/src/keyer.cpp
index 23e859a..276b06b 100644
--- a/src/keyer.cpp
+++ b/src/keyer.cpp
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
+#include <cstring>
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #include "pico/stdlib.h"
 
 #include "keyer.h"
-#include "sidetone.h"
 #include "morse.h"
+#include "sidetone.h"
 
 extern const uint LED_PIN;
 extern const uint LEFT_PADDLE_PIN;
@@ -48,22 +49,32 @@ void Keyer::setSpeed(uint8_t wpm)
     m_elementDuration = calcElementDurationUs(wpm);
 }
 
-void Keyer::sendMessage(std::string msg)
+//void Keyer::sendMessage(std::string msg)
+//{
+//   std::string morse = messageToMorse(msg);
+//
+//    for (char c : morse) {
+//        m_messageQueue.push(c);
+//    }
+//}
+
+void Keyer::sendCharacter(const char ch)
 {
-    std::string morse = messageToMorse(msg);
+    char morseSymbols[32] {0};
 
-    for (char c : morse) {
-        m_messageQueue.push(c);
+    if (!charToMorse(ch, morseSymbols)) {
+        return;
     }
-}
 
-void Keyer::sendCharacter(char ch)
-{
-    std::string morse = charToMorse(ch);
-
-    for (char c : morse) {
-        m_messageQueue.push(c);
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < strlen(morseSymbols); i++) {
+        m_messageQueue.push(morseSymbols[i]);
     }
+
+    // std::string morse = charToMorse(ch);
+
+    // for (char c : morse) {
+    //     m_messageQueue.push(c);
+    // }
 }
 
 void Keyer::run()
@@ -174,7 +185,8 @@ void Keyer::run()
             break;
         case MessageState::InterWordSpace:
             if (!m_currentlyPausing) {
-                m_pausing_until = make_timeout_time_us(m_elementDuration * (7-3)); // 7-3, because we aleady have the InterCharSpace of 3
+                m_pausing_until = make_timeout_time_us(m_elementDuration *
+                                                       (7 - 3)); // 7-3, because we aleady have the InterCharSpace of 3
                 m_currentlyPausing = true;
             }
             if (left_paddle_pressed() || right_paddle_pressed()) {
@@ -185,8 +197,7 @@ void Keyer::run()
                 m_messageKeyingState = MessageState::Wait;
             }
             break;
-        case MessageState::Abort:
-        {
+        case MessageState::Abort: {
             gpio_put(LED_PIN, 0);
             gpio_put(CW_OUT_PIN, 0);
             m_buzzer.off();
diff --git a/src/keyer.h b/src/keyer.h
index b6c378b..7e64816 100644
--- a/src/keyer.h
+++ b/src/keyer.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <queue>
-#include <string>
+//#include <string>
 
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "sidetone.h"
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ class Keyer final
 
     void setMode(Mode mode) { m_mode = mode; }
     void setSpeed(uint8_t wpm);
-    void sendMessage(std::string msg);
-    void sendCharacter(char ch);
+    //void sendMessage(std::string msg);
+    void sendCharacter(const char ch);
 
     void run();
     void stop();
diff --git a/src/morse.cpp b/src/morse.cpp
index e5a46ef..5a529ee 100644
--- a/src/morse.cpp
+++ b/src/morse.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-//#include <algorithm>
+// #include <algorithm>
 #include <map>
-//#include <regex>
+#include <string>
+// #include <regex>
 
 #include "morse.h"
 
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ void refurbishMessage(std::string &msg)
 
 std::string messageToMorse(std::string &msg)
 {
-    //refurbishMessage(msg);
+    // refurbishMessage(msg);
 
     std::string morseString {};
 
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ std::string messageToMorse(std::string &msg)
     return morseString;
 }
 
-std::string charToMorse(char ch)
+std::string charToMorse(const char ch)
 {
     std::string morseString {};
 
@@ -153,4 +154,33 @@ std::string charToMorse(char ch)
     morseString.push_back('c');
 
     return morseString;
+}
+
+bool charToMorse(const char ch, char *morseSymbols)
+{
+    size_t index {0};
+
+    if (ch != ' ' && !morseMap.contains(ch)) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (ch == ' ') {
+        morseSymbols[index++] = 'w';
+    } else {
+        for (unsigned int i = 0; i < morseMap[ch].length(); i++) {
+            char m = morseMap[ch][i];
+
+            morseSymbols[index++] = m;
+
+            if (i < morseMap[ch].length() - 1) {
+                morseSymbols[index++] = 'i';
+            }
+        }
+
+        morseSymbols[index++] = 'c';
+    }
+
+    morseSymbols[index] = '\0';
+
+    return true;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/morse.h b/src/morse.h
index bdb10cd..d58fe88 100644
--- a/src/morse.h
+++ b/src/morse.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <string>
+//#include <string>
 
-std::string messageToMorse(std::string &msg);
-std::string charToMorse(char ch);
\ No newline at end of file
+//std::string messageToMorse(std::string &msg);
+//std::string charToMorse(const char ch);
+bool charToMorse(const char ch, char * morseSymbols);
\ No newline at end of file